The NRL's salary-cap investigations into Brisbane will extend to the Broncos Leagues Club after the governing body appointed Deloitte to forensically examine the glamour club's books.

The governing body will scrutinise the contracts of the some of the biggest names at the Broncos after the club informed head office of potential payment ''irregularities'' earlier this week. Fairfax Media has been told Brisbane officials acted after being tipped off to potential anomalies by the Broncos Leagues Club, prompting new salary-cap auditor Jamie L'Oste Brown to head north to investigate.

Deloitte, the independent accounting firm that confirmed Melbourne had systematically rorted the cap between 2006 and 2010, has been tasked with scrutinising Brisbane's books. However, the NRL doesn't have the jurisdiction to raid the leagues club, although Broncos Leagues could choose to throw open its books regardless. One marquee player is believed to be out of pocket for a six-figure amount, while a host of third-party payments will be scrutinised. The ARL Commission is confident of getting to the bottom of the matter – which includes investigating payments from 2012 to this season – even if it can't directly access leagues club files. "We have the power to obtain documents from the football clubs themselves," an NRL spokesperson said.

"As part of our rules, there is also a requirement on behalf of our clubs to use their best endeavours to obtain any financial statements or other documents, i.e. those we may need from their affiliates, which could include the leagues club. Essentially we would go through the football club to get any documents we may need from the leagues club."

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The investigation follows revelations former Brisbane operations chief Andrew Gee resigned from the Broncos Leagues Club board in late April. He subsequently ended his 25-year association with the club he had made his name at, with 215 appearances in a fabled front row, following a period of leave. In a further change to the front office, Peter Nolan has returned after a stint as the retention and recruitment manager at Parramatta.

Brisbane has been an aggressive player in the transfer market and recently confirmed Canberra fullback Anthony Milford had honoured his commitment to join the club next year. It's unclear whether the NRL has registered his contract yet. The dramas have been an unwelcome distraction before Sunday's hosting of Manly.

"I have been with Gee since I was 14, he scouted me at Aspley," said Broncos forward Josh McGuire, 24, before his 100th game. "He has been a massive part of the club, been here since day dot, but I am not sure what was going on there."

But McGuire added: "What is in the headlines is not always what is going on."

McGuire did not believe the off-field dramas would affect their performance, saying Brisbane (8th, 6-5 record) were still pumped from their last-round away win over Wests Tigers before taking on second-placed Manly. "We haven't spoken about it [the investigation]," he said. "It's business as usual."

"There is a buzz around the club after a gutsy win over the Wests Tigers and we will be confident on Sunday. 'Hoffy' [Josh Hoffman] will also play his 100th game. Playing my milestone match with one of my mates is all I have been thinking about."

With AAP

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